Coupler



E. C. POST Se t. 16, 1 924.

COUPLER Filed March 9, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet l E. C. POST COUPLER Se t, 16. 1924.

Filed March 9, 192 2 3 Shoots-Shout z flfmrenm Sept. 16, 1924. I 1.5;Q8A0s E.C.POST

COUPLER Filed March 9, 192 3 Shueis-Sheot 3 Hull Patented Sept. 16, 1924.

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EDWARD (1. POST, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AEiSIGNOR TO VAPOR CAR .HEATING GUM- PAN'Y, ING, OF CHICAGO, ILLING'IS, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK. I

:oournna Application filed March.9, 1922. Serial No. 542,297.

To all whomc't may concern:

Be it :known that I, EDWARD C. Pos'r, a citizen :of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Couplers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a hose coupling, especially a coupling intended for detachably uniting the hose or equivalent flexible, metal, tubular elements on the ends of the train pipes of adjacent cars of a railroad train.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a novel, simple coupling of eco nomical construction of which the mating members may be brought into a preliminaryengagement by a lateral movement of one member toward the other (without the usual rocking or angular movements characteristic of the gravity type of coupling) and then drawn :into fluid tight relation with their gaskets pressed one against the other to complete the coupling operation.

More specifically, .my invention contemplates the formation -of1on'e 0f :the elements of the coupling with a projecting lug and the other with a sliding member which is forced into engagement with said lug, so as to draw the couplers together, by means of a wedge, cam, eccentric, or equivalent device. By the term coupling 'Iintend to include both mating members. The term coupler is used to denote one of these members. Thecoupling may consist of two members each constructed in accordance with my present invention, but a single coupler so constructed may be mated with another coupler differently designed so long as the other coupler is provided with em gaging parts of suitable configuration and properly placed. 111 one '.form of the invention the coupler is shown as adapted for mating with any of the standard :types of gravity hose couplers now in general use on the steam railroads for making the connection between the steam train pipes of passenger cars.

The invention consists in'the new and improved constructions, arrangementsand devices, to be hereinafter .described and claimed, for carrying out the above stated object-sand such other incidental objects as will be referred to in the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings.

in the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a hose coupling comprising a coupler, constructed in accordance with .this invention, mated with a gravity hose coupler of the S e tyr 2 is .a plan view of the coupling shown in Fig. '1.

I Fig. 3 is a View, in perspective, of :the sliding member forming a part of the :im:

proved coupler shown in the preceding in :a modified form. I

Fig. 8 is aside elevation of the coupling shown 1n Flg. 7.

F g. 9 .1s a view, in perspective, :of the sliding member employed in the form of th invention shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

Fig. 110 is a fragmentary view,'in elevation, of the sliding member showing the other side of the same from that shown :in

Fig. 9, and

:Fig. 11 is a perspective view-ofthesiactuating cam for moving the sliding members shownin the preceding four figures.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive,

A designates .a gravity coupler of {the 8-4 5 or safety type, which is well known in the art and does not require description. '13 :is

a coupler constructed in accordance with my 'lllVGDl'slOIl and adapted to mate :withpan S 4: coupler or, in fact, with any of the common types of gravity couplers :in use on :the railroads of the United States.

The coupler :13 comprises alhead 10 formed with a fluid port 121 in which 'is arranged any suitable "type of gasket 12, the gasket forming no part of my invention. This gasket is adapted to be forced against -a similar gasket arranged in the port of the coupler A. 9n one side ofthe coupler head 10 is formed an undercut :lug 1-3 providing an areua'te cam 14 adapting it for engagement by the projection 15 on the arm 16 of coupler A. Projecting forwardly from the other side of the head 10 of coupler B is an arm 17 formed with outstanding parallel flanges 18, 19 having slots 20, 21 therein, the arm itself being formed near its outer end with an opening 22 therethrough. Slidably arranged between the guide flanges 18, 19 is a member 23 formed at its forward or outer end with an enlarged head 24 which lies on the inside of arm 17 projecting through opening 22. This part of the sliding member 23 is formed with an undercut, arcuate portion 25 adapted to engage with the undercut lug 26 formed on the side of coupler A. At the lower end of the arcuate cam 25 1s a rearwardly pro ecting lug 27 'upon which the under surface of lug 26 is adapted to hear. The sliding member 28 is formed with a vertical slot 28 through which. and through the slots 20, 21 in flanges 18 and 19 extends a wedge 29 preferably formed at its lower end with a retaining lug 30. Preferably a coiled spring 31 is interposed between a web 82 on the head 10 and the inner or rear surface of the sliding member 23, the web and sliding member being formed with centering studs 33, 34 for the spring.

The sliding member 23 is applied to its operative position by inserting the slotted end through the opening 22 of the arm 17 so that the ends of the enlarged head 24 bears against the inner surface of the arm 17 and the flat inner surface of the member 23 slidingly engages with the outer surface of the arm 17. The wedge 29 when inserted in the slot 28 prevents any appreciable lateral movement of the sliding member.

The head 10 is shown as provided with a locking link 35 pivoted in a lug 36 formed on the top of the head. The outer bent end 37 of this link is adapted to engage a lug 88 on the coupler A. This form of locking device is the one commonly employed on an 53-4 coupler and its use in connection with the improved coupler of my invention is optional.

In Figs. 7 to 11 inclusive, l have shown a coupler which differs from the coupler 13, just described, in two respects: In the first place, the coupler is not designed for mating with standard gravity type couplers so that the engaging parts may be simplified.

from the manufacturing standpoint. In the second place, a rotary cam instead of a wedge is employed for actuating the movement of the sliding member. These two featuresare quite independent of each other.

The coupling shown consists of two identical couplers C and D. Each of these conplers consists of a head 39 formed on one side with an undercut lug 40 and on the other side with a forwardly projecting arm 41 having outstanding flanges 42, between which is arranged a sliding member 44 provided at its forward end with a head 45 projecting through an opening 46 in the arm and formed with an undercut curved lug 47 adapted to engage the lug 1-0 on the mating coupler. The rear portion of member 44 is formed with a recess 48 and with upper and lower slots 49, 50. 51 is a cam or eccentric arranged in recess 48 on a stud 52 which is fixed by cotter pin 53 in the flanges 42, 43 and extends through slots 49, in member 44 and through a perforation 54 in the cam 51. The latter is provided with a handle 55 and to allow the necessary amplitude of movement to the cam the back wall 56 of member 44 is cut away, as indi cated at 57 and the side of member 44 grooved out, as indicated at 58. The cam 51 is adapted to bear against the back wall 56 of member 44 and against a surface 59 thereof defining the recess 48 at its forward side.

The sliding member 44 of this form of the device is applied to its operative position in substantially the same manner as described in connection with} the sliding member 28 of the form shown in Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings, and the flat inner surface 44 of said member is held in sliding engagement with the side of the coupler so as to prevent any appreciable angular or latoral displacement.

Operation: With either type of coupler a preliminary engagement of the coupler with the mating coupler is effected, with out any rocking or angular movement of said elements, by moving one toward the other sidewise. The hook-like portion of the sliding member engages the undercut lug on the other coupler. In the type of coupler shownin Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, the under side of lug 26 bears against the projection 27 on the sliding member 23 so as to keep the couplers substantially in alignment. lVith this type of coupler the engagement of the mating elements is completed by driving down wedge 29. This forces the sliding member toward the head 10, con'ipressing spring 81, thus causing the couplers to be drawn toward each other until their gaskets 12 are brought into steamtight relationship with each other. Ordinarily these gaskets are made of a material which eXpands under the temperature of steam so that (assuming the coupler is used on the steam train line) a tight joint is insured. To uncouple the couplers wedge 29 is driven upwardly and spring 81 forces the sliding member 23 outwardly so that one coupler head may be disengaged from the other by a lateral movement.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 7 to 11 inclusive, the coupler heads are drawn together, after the preliminarv ltltl engagement has been made, by rotating cam 51 from left to right (Fig. 7). When the preliminary engagement is made the cam 51. will be turned so that-handle 55 lies in the recess 58. The cam is rotated to the right as far as is necessary in order to bring the gaskets of the couplers into intimate contact. The movement of the sliding member. 4 is positive in both directions. No spring is required.

lVhile I have described my invention in certain preferred embodiments, it is realized that modifications might be devised without departure from the principles of the invention. Therefore I wish it to be understood that the invention is not to be considered as limited to the particular constructions, arrangements and devices shown and described except so far as the claims hereto appended are specifically so limited.

I claim:

1. For use as an element of a hose coupling, a coupler head having a member slidable thereon adapted to engage the mating coupler, and a wedge extending through said member and a part of the coupler for forcing said member in a direction to draw the couplers together.

2. For use as an element of a hose coupling, a coupler comprising a head formed at one side with a forwardly projecting arm, a member slidable lengthwise of said arm and adapted to engage the side of the mating coupler, and means for holding said member in position with capacity for said lengthwise movement and for forcing said member toward said head so as to draw the couplers together.

3. For use as an element of a hose couplin a coupler having a member slidable thereon, formed with a slotted portion and adapted to engage the mating couplers, means extending into the slotted portion of said member to hold it in place with capacity for said sliding movement and to force said member in a direction to draw the coupler together, and a spring which is stressed by said movement of said member.

4. For use as an element of a hose coupling, a coupler comprising a head formed at one side with a forwardly projecting arm having parallel guide flanges, a member slidable between said flanges, formed with a slotted portion and adapted to engage the side of the mating coupler, and means ex tending into the slotted portion of said member to hold it in place with capacity for said sliding movement and to force said member toward said head to draw the couplers together.

5. For use as an element of a hose coupling, a coupler head having a member slidable thereon adapted to engage the mating coupler, and an actuating device extending at one side with a forwardly projecting arm having parallel guide flanges, a 'member' slidable between said flanges and adapted to engage the side of the mating coupler, and an actuating device extending through said flanges and member for forcing the member 111 a direction to draw the couplers together.

7. A coupler for use as an element of a hose coupling, comprising a head formed with a port therethrough, a lug on onevside of said head, an arm forwardly projecting from the otherside and formed with guide flanges, a member slidable between said guide flanges and adapted to engage the mating coupler, and an actuating device extending through said flanges and member to hold said member in place and force the member in a direction to draw the couplers together.

8. A coupler for use as an element of a hose coupling, comprising a head formed with a port therethrough, a lug on one side of said head, an arm forwardly projecting from the other side and formed with guide flanges, a member slidable between said guide flanges and adapted to engage the mating coupler, and an actuating device extending through said flanges and member to hold said member in place and force the member in a direction to draw the couplers together, said member and lug formed with arcuate cams adapting the coupler for mating with couplers of the gravity type. v

9. A coupler for use as an element of a. hose coupling, comprising a head formed wtih a port therethrough, a lug on one side of said head, an arm forwardly projecting from the other side and formed with guide flanges, a member slidable between said guide flanges and adapted to engage the mating coupler, and a wedge extending through said flanges and member for forcing the member in the direction to draw said couplers together.

10. A coupler for use as an element of a hose coupling, comprising a head formed with a port therethrough, a lug on one side of said head, an arm forwardly projecting from the other side and formed with guide flanges, a member slidable between said guide flanges and adapted to engage the mating coupler, a Wedge extending through said flanges and member for forcing the member in the direction to draw said couplers together, and a spring interposed between said member and head adapted to be compressed by the engaging movement of said wedge.

EDWARD 0. POST. 

